Christ came to redeem us from original sin

by Letters Editor · Published February 9, 2012 · Updated July 27, 2017

From Lewis Berry CO, Port Elizabeth – In reply to Bernard Straughan’s letter Time to reassess the doctrine of original sin (January 18), it’s always important to reflect on our faith, and I welcome hearing Mr Straughan’s sincere difficulties with the doctrine of original sin. GK Chesterton said: Original sin…is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved.

He meant that the presence of evil in the world, originating in us humans, is self-evident to everyone. And so, as Cardinal Newman argued: If there be a God, since there is a God, the human race is implicated in some terrible aboriginal calamity. It is out of joint with the purposes of its Creator.
Can we not, therefore, each of us echo the words of St Paul: I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do (Rom 7:19)?

Bad news? No! Christ has come to redeem us from sin. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! […] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death (Rom 7:25; 8:2). The Good News of Jesus can be understood only if we are sinners.

This is why we read in the modern catechism: The Church, which has the mind of Christ, knows very well that we cannot tamper with the revelation of original sin without undermining the mystery of Christ (No 389).